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St. Pierre and Miquelon

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Flag of Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Coat of arms of Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: "A Mare Labor"
"From the Sea, Work"
Location of Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Status Overseas collectivity
Capital
and largest city
Saint-Pierre
46°47′N 56°10′W / 46.783°N 56.167°W / 46.783; -56.167
Official languages French
Demonym Saint-Pierrais
Miquelonnais
French
Sovereign state France
Government Overseas collectivity
François Hollande
• Prefect
Henri Jean
Stéphane Artano
Legislature Territorial Council
Overseas collectivity of France
30 May 1814
27 October 1946
17 July 1976
11 June 1985
28 March 2003
Area
• Total
242 km2 (93 sq mi) (214th)
• Water (%)
negligible
Population
• Jan. 2011 census
6,080
• Density
25/km2 (64.7/sq mi) (188th)
GDP (PPP) 2004 estimate
• Total
€161.131 million
• Per capita
€26,073
Currency Euro (€) (EUR)
Time zone (UTC−3)
• Summer (DST)
 (UTC−2)
observes North American DST
Drives on the right
Calling code +508
ISO 3166 code PM
Internet TLD .pm

Saint Pierre and Miquelon, officially the Overseas Collectivity of Saint Pierre and Miquelon (French: Collectivité d'Outre-mer de Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, French pronunciation: ​[sɛ̃.pjɛʁ.e.mi.klɔ̃]), is a self-governing territorial overseas collectivity of France, situated in the northwestern Atlantic Ocean near the Newfoundland and Labrador province of Canada. It is the only remnant of the former colonial empire of New France that still remains under French control, with an area of 242 km2 and a population of 6,080 at the January 2011 census.

The islands are situated at the entrance of Fortune Bay, which extends into the southwestern coast of Newfoundland, near the Grand Banks. They are 3,819 kilometres (2,373 mi) from Brest, the nearest point in Metropolitan France, but only 25 kilometres (16 mi) from the Burin Peninsula of Newfoundland.

Saint-Pierre is French for Saint Peter, the patron saint of fishermen.

The present name of Miquelon was first noted in the form of "Micquelle" in the Basque sailor Martin de Hoyarçabal's navigational pilot for Newfoundland. It has been claimed that the name "Miquelon" is a Basque form of Michael; Mikel and Mikels are usually named Mikelon in the Basque Country. Therefore, from Mikelon it may have been written in the French way with a "q" instead of a "k". It appears that this is a very common form in that language.

Though the Basque Country is divided between Spain and France, most Basques live on the south side of the border and speak Spanish, and Miquelon may have been influenced by the Spanish name Miguelón, an augmentative form of Miguel meaning "big Michael". The adjoined island's name of "Langlade" is said to be an adaptation of "l'île à l'Anglais" (Englishman's Island).


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